Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving 31 Thanksgiving Decor Ideas Guaranteed To Inspire By Jorie Nicole McDonald Jorie Nicole McDonald Jorie Nicole McDonald leads editorial video efforts for Southern Living. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she creates engaging visual content for the website and various social media platforms. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 20, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Thanksgiving is centered around food, so let the meal really shine this year by setting a beautiful table and creating a festive atmosphere. Be sure to avoid common setting mishaps like centerpieces that block conversations or place cards that lead to confusion. We've gathered our favorite Thanksgiving decorating ideas to make your holiday prep a cinch. Once you've planned an occasion-deserving Thanksgiving menu (including splurge-worthy desserts, of course), set a spectacular table to coordinate with your fabulous menu. With a few simple tricks you can have a table and home that looks just as festive as you please. From easy DIYs to a few store-bought life savers, these decorations will make your gathering feel extra special. With creative centerpieces and clever finishing touches, as well as functional kids' table ideas and sophisticated entryways, this collection of decorating ideas is guaranteed to inspire your home this holiday. The only thing more impressive than the decor will be the delicious turkey dinner. 01 of 31 Pumpkin Topiary Helen Norman Boost curb appeal by piling the porch high with pumpkins. To make the topiaries, buy flat-topped pumpkins with short stems for easy stacking. Pots planted with flowering kale complete the lush look. 02 of 31 Corn Garland Southern Living Make a festive garland out of decorative dried corn to hang from the front door to welcome guests on Thanksgiving Day. 03 of 31 Pumpkin-and Gourd-Wreath Helen Norman To make the pumpkin-and-gourd wreath, first cover a 20-inch foam form with sheet moss, using a glue gun to hold the moss in place. Loop a 3-inch-wide burlap ribbon over the wreath to create a hanger long enough so it can reach the top of the door and allow the wreath to hang at eye level. Insert wooden florist picks into the bottoms of pumpkins and gourds, and hot- glue the connection to secure. Once the glue has cooled, stick pumpkins and gourds into the wreath then, using a flue gun, fill in between with more moss. To hang the wreath, secure the burlap ribbon with an upholstery tack hammered into the top edge of the door. 04 of 31 Fall Leaf Paper Bag Luminaries Laurey W. Glenn Light up your Turkey Day celebration with a trail of celebratory paper bag luminaries. 05 of 31 No-Carve Leafy Pumpkin Southern Living No carving, no mess. These creative pumpkins are the ideal Thanksgiving decoration for a table centerpiece, mantle, or front porch. To get the look, apply seasonal leaves with craft glue to white pumpkins. 06 of 31 Modern Cornucopia Robbie Caponetto; Produced and Styled by Buffy Hargett Miller Skip the basket and opt for a wooden dough bowl for this stunning centerpiece. Line with florist foil and foam and then build out the arrangement with various fruits, vegetables, gourds, and squash to showcase the season's bounty. 07 of 31 Succulent Vase Alison Miksch For this all-natural look, start with a gray-green pumpkin. Select one with an indented top, because the first step will be to add potting soil to fill in the hollow around the pumpkin's stem. Moisten the soil; then plant various succulents, starting with larger ones like echeverias. Create a lush look and round out the arrangement by filling in any bare spots with smaller succulents. 08 of 31 Pumpkin Flower Centerpiece Laurey W. Glenn In just three easy steps, you can create this gorgeous pumpkin flower centerpiece that's perfect for the center of your Thanksgiving tablescape. 09 of 31 Fall Pumpkin Tableau Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Gourds of different sizes, textures, and colors make this seasonal tableau the ideal foyer or mantle statement piece. 10 of 31 Pumpkin Votives Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Step up your fall decorating game by displaying glowing pumpkin votives. Float them in water or arrange them on the dining table for a festive way to use candles. 11 of 31 Statement Gold Pieces Hector Sanchez Grab a few larger-than-life, fall-inspired fixtures at your local craft store, and paint them a uniform shade of glamorous, warm gold. 12 of 31 Tasteful Menu Display Laurey W. Glenn Thanksgiving revolves around food, so why not spend a little extra prep time on displaying the menu? Guests will love knowing what delicious dishes they'll be eating in advance. 13 of 31 Fresh Cotton Photo: Jennifer Davick For a simple statement-worthy centerpiece, add a few sprigs of freshly cut cotton to extra vases and scatter them around your home for a unified decoration. 14 of 31 Natural Elements Photo: Iain Bagwell Bundle together key elements of fall's bounty (like dried corn or wheat) with a festive ribbon, and use them as an organic centerpiece on your dining room table. 15 of 31 Draped Linens Iain Bagwell; Styling: Tasia Malakasis Add your favorite linen napkin to a stack of plates to provide an added level of detail and intricacy to a sophisticated table setting. Mix and match around the table or keep it consistent with each place setting. 16 of 31 Well-Placed Pumpkin Photo: Hector Sanchez Not sure what to do with your leftover, un-carved pumpkins from Halloween? Create a seasonal centerpiece by inserting them into a wide-brimmed container lined with moss or greenery. 17 of 31 Creative Kids' Table Photo: Iain Bagwell Keep the little ones entertained during the Thanksgiving feast with a white paper tablecloth or place mats and colored pencils. 18 of 31 Pop of Color Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Hardy cabbage and kale mixed with mini white pumpkins and pansies create a colorful, lively centerpiece. Use a long wooden bowl lined with plastic to hold these decorations in place. 19 of 31 Build a Bar Peter Frank Edwards Thanksgiving may be the only holiday on which the bar plays second fiddle to the buffet. Having a well-stocked bar cart is key to any successful Southern celebration. 20 of 31 Practical Plates Photo: Laurey W. Glenn If you collect china with turkeys or fall colors, display them on the wall or shelf throughout November. This practical and unique decor can even double as dishes for your gathering if you need a few extra settings to accommodate the crowd. 21 of 31 Rustic Revival Peter Frank Edwards Embrace your home's rustic feel. Instead of dressing up your rooms in curtains and cloths, embrace wooden furniture (in all finishes) to evoke a warm, fall feeling. 22 of 31 Tiny Table Toppers Photo: Jennifer Davick If a centerpiece that blocks conversation is your pet peeve, replace the bulky arrangement with miniature arrangements of your favorite fall flowers. Scatter them across your table with a few votives added in. 23 of 31 Seasonal Centerpieces Peter Frank Edwards You can create these festive arrangements in any size with heirloom or Cinderella pumpkins and a trip to the local florist. Simply carve the pumpkin out in a vase-shape, fill with water and flowers, and place around your home. 24 of 31 Lots of Layers Photo: Hector Sanchez This earthy setting still feels sophisticated thanks to rustic elements layered with streamlined details. Mix modern and natural materials like silver, china, and antique pieces in a complementary color scheme for a balanced table. 25 of 31 Place Cards with Purpose Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Etch each guest's name into simple glassware for impressive name cards that double as party favors. 26 of 31 Top-Notch To-Go Boxes Photo: Jennifer Davick There are always plenty of leftovers to go around at the end of a Thanksgiving meal. Dish out your turkey and stuffing in style with these personalized to-go boxes. 27 of 31 Delicate Details Photo: Jennifer Davick These adorable place card markers are a super-simple way to make your setup stand out. Simply take an acorn, hot glue a ribbon, and cut out a paper name tag. 28 of 31 Fall Foliage Wreath Hector Manuel Sanchez; Produced: Kathleen Varner Use turned leaves to create this stunning wreath. Start with a grapevine wreath and layer in foliage and pinecones. Fill the wreath out with oregano, preserved plume reed grass, and phalaris grass or any additional elements you desire. 29 of 31 Dried Décor Hector Manuel Sanchez; Produced: Kathleen Varner Utilize pampas grass and yarrow as decorations on any table this Thanksgiving. Their neutral tones allow you to pair groupings with other decor like gourds and cinnamon sticks for a supremely fall feel. 30 of 31 Personalized Place Cards Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Rachael Burrow Bring the outdoors in with greenery sprigs this holiday. Place a sprig with each name card for a personalized touch at each place setting. 31 of 31 Table Alfresco Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins Don't be afraid to take your gathering outside for a beautiful backdrop. Set your table with a warm-colored table cloth, fresh foliage and flowers, pumpkins, and festive china. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit